Thrilling Video of Pilot Flying F-18 Fighter Jet

Melissa Knowles

Trending NowFebruary 14, 2013

How awesome would it be to sit at the gears of a fighter jet and see the world from tens of thousands of feet above ground at speeds of hundreds of miles per hour? Most of us will never get the opportunity to fly a fighter jet, of course, but worry not, you can now experience the view.

A new YouTube video uploaded by a Navy pilot gives viewers a firsthand experience inside the cockpit of an F-18 Super Hornet -- no rigorous training required. The video was uploaded by YouTube user Sir Francis 92, whose nickname matches the name on the pilot's helmet. It documents an entire flight from takeoff to landing from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Along the way, the pilot demonstrates some of the incredible rolls and turns that make these jets so special. The pilot even engages in a midair refueling from another jet.

More than 65,000 people have already viewed the 12- minute video, and people are in awe of the pilot's flying and service. One person wrote, "You sir are a badass." Another commenter wrote, "Thanks for sharing this gorgeous video with us ground-bound slugs. Even a small glimpse of this kind of flying is a thrill to watch."

You can see the video in its entirety here. For those of you who get motion sickness, be forewarned. There are some pretty acrobatic maneuvers involved.